Taking the next step in its Blueprint for Mobility, Ford today – in conjunction with the University of Michigan and State Farm® – revealed a Ford Fusion Hybrid automated research vehicle that will be used to make progress on future automated driving and other advanced technologies.

News Roundup: Tesla Improving Autopilot System, Ford Planning ‘Affordable’ Autonomous Car for the Masses, and More

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A roundup of recent headlines from the driverless and connected-car industry:

 

Ford announces plan to start selling affordable self-driving cars by 2025

In a speech by CEO Mark Fields on Monday, Ford Motor Co. announced it will begin selling driverless cars within the next five years. The company will start by selling robot taxis to ride-hailing companies by 2021, and then “affordable” models to the masses by 2025. Fields said the company is committed to making autonomous cars affordable for everyone, not just those who like luxury cars. Read more about Ford’s plans from Bloomberg News.

Volvo to begin driverless car testing in Sweden

Sweden-based auto manufacturer Volvo is almost ready to kick off its public driverless car testing program in Gothenburg. The program, called Drive Me, will feature the company’s first autonomous car, the Volvo XC90 SUV, which the company has been working on in its Torslanda facilities. Once final testing of its hands-off and feet-off capabilities is complete, the cars will be handed over to customers who have signed up to participate in the Drive Me program. Read more about the XC90 and the Drive Me program in Economic Times-Auto.

Tesla announces plans to upgrade its Autopilot systems

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk on Monday announced plans to update its Autopilot system, after a number of accidents that included one death. Analysts have responded positively to Tesla’s announcement, and express hope that the updates will not only improve the company’s outlook, but also consumer confidence in self-driving technology as a whole. Musk said the updates will include more of a reliance on radar instead of just cameras to scan the environment for obstacles that create a risk for collisions. The recent fatal crash involving Autopilot is still being investigated by federal transportation authorities. Read more about Tesla’s plans from the Los Angeles Times.